Is Daytona Highlands safe?
Daytona Beach, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Daytona Highlands as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Daytona Highlands
“Go with care. Daytona Highlands is primarily a quiet, working-class residential pocket that is relatively peaceful compared to higher-crime beachside and downtown nightlife strips. However, elevated property crime in Daytona Beach and occasional opportunistic theft mean visitors should lock vehicles, secure belongings, and stay alert after dark.”
Local law enforcement continues regular patrols along the nearby Mason Avenue and Nova Road corridors to address regional property crime, traffic violations, and retail theft.
About the area
Daytona Highlands is an established, mid-century residential neighborhood located northwest of central Daytona Beach. Composed mostly of modest single-family homes and quiet grid streets, it sits between major commercial thoroughfares like Mason Avenue and Nova Road, offering easy driving access to the speedway and the beach.
- Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Suburban Grid
- Quiet
Walking and biking in Daytona Highlands
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 48/100
There is no public bike-share program in the area; interior streets are low-traffic and rideable, but major boundary arterials lack dedicated protected bike lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Primarily owner-occupied and long-term rental single-family homes creating a quieter residential atmosphere
- Significantly lower pedestrian and nightlife-related violent crime than Beachside or Downtown
- Convenient central location with fast vehicle access to Daytona International Speedway, colleges, and medical centers
- Plentiful off-street residential parking and lower vehicle congestion
Cons
- Elevated rates of property crime and vehicle break-ins typical of the broader Daytona Beach area
- Commercial borders along Mason Avenue and Nova Road experience occasional loitering and retail theft
- Lower median household income and aging housing infrastructure compared to newer western subdivisions
- Limited street lighting along some interior residential blocks at night
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior residential blocks of Daytona Highlands, though individuals and occasional panhandling are seen along commercial intersections on Mason Avenue and Nova Road.
What Daytona Highlands is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm as residents commute to work and school, making it safe for morning jogs and dog walks.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Low-traffic and generally quiet in the interior, though surrounding arterial roads see steady commercial activity.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential feel settles in, though visibility decreases on blocks with sparse street lighting.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally subdued, but walking around is not advised due to limited lighting and higher risk of opportunistic property crimes.
Transit, parking and getting around
Votran provides public bus service across the metro, with routes operating along major bordering arterials such as Mason Avenue and Nova Road (Routes 10 and 11). There is no passenger rail or BRT system in the immediate area.
Parking is exceptionally easy, with ample free driveways, carports, and unrestricted residential street parking throughout the neighborhood.
Things to do in Daytona Highlands
- Take a short drive to the nearby Daytona International Speedway and ONE DAYTONA entertainment complex
- Visit Derbyshire Park nearby for outdoor recreation, sports courts, and open green space
- Explore local independent dining spots along the surrounding Mason Avenue corridor
Local favorites
- Stavro's Original Pizza House · Pizza Restaurant · 4.6★ (1150)A long-running local favorite on Mason Ave serving classic thin-crust Greek-style pizza and grinders.
- Houligan's Daytona · Sports Bar & Grill · 4.4★ (2300)Popular regional gathering spot famous for its 'Wally Wings', craft beer selection, and sports viewing.
- Tia Cori's Tacos · Mexican Restaurant · 4.5★ (1850)Authentic, casual taqueria nearby serving handmade street tacos, tortas, and classic Mexican specialties.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.